Created by Ryan Clopton Edited by Ms. Barbour John Steinbeck Created by Ryan Clopton Edited by Ms. Barbour

John Steinbeck

Beginnings Salinas, California Population-2500 John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, on February 27, 1902, John was the third of four children, and the only boy.

Parents John’s mother Olive was a former teacher, and was an educated and cheerful woman who was proud of her son, the writer. John’s father was an accountant, and was very strict and demanding, and had expectations that John found hard to satisfy.

School Back row far right John was shy, unpopular, aloof and rather lazy, and just managed to achieve the above-average grades his family expected of him in high school Attended Stanford University in 1919

Carol Henning John met Carol at a fish hatchery near Lake Tahoe in 1929, and they were later married in 1930 In 1942 John and Carol divorced

Tortilla Flat John’s first successful book Tortilla Flat was published in 1935. A story about characters in a later-day King Arthur and his court, where the characters are indifferent to the American lust for money and success.

Of Mice And Men Published in 1937 Involves two farm hands in California One named George who takes care of the innocent and stupid Lennie Focuses on the weakness and innocence of the mentally challenged Brought him fame Lennie with Curley’s wife

The Red Pony Published in 1937 Describes boyhood initiations into life and the conflict between childhood’s heroic dreams and prosaic reality.

The Grapes of Wrath Published in 1939 Won Pulitzer prize for The Grapes of Wrath in 1940 Expresses many themes and emotions that came out of the Depression The book for which John Steinbeck is most well known

Grapes of Wrath-continued The plot involves the Joud family as they make their difficult journey west. The book is a testimony to the hardship and exploitation suffered by the dispossessed during the depression. The Grapes of Wrath is an epic novel; moving and compassionate; it tells a timeless story of the struggle for survival.

Gwyndolyn Conger Married Gwyndolyn Conger in 1943 She was a professional singer. Had two sons-Thom in 1944 and John in 1946 Divorced in 1950

War correspondent Was a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune in 1943 Traveled to Africa and onto Italy with the Allied invasion. Had nightmares for months after his return to the United States Movie written about experiences called the Moon is Down. Bottom Right

Ed Ricketts A small-town marine biologist and philosopher Appears in three of Steinbeck’s books Was a great friend of John John said ‘the greatest man in the world is dying and there is nothing I can do’ when he died in 1948.

Elaine Scott Marries Elaine Scott in 1950 Was John’s happiest marriage They were together until John’s death from heart disease in New York in 1968.

East of Eden Published in 1952 One of John’s most popular books Story of two brothers love of the same woman A re-enacted story of Cain and Abel Movie made in 1953

Travels With Charley Published in 1962 Story written about John’s travel across the United States with nobody but his wife’s poodle for company Sold more on publication than any other Steinbeck book

Nobel Prize Awarded Nobel Prize in 1962 as ‘a teacher of goodwill and charity, a defender of human values’ Went in person to receive it despite being already a sick man Was very surprised to win such a prestigious honor

Honors 1964 - United States Medal of Freedom          - Trustee of John F. Kennedy Memorial Library          - Annual Paperback of the Year Award          - Press Medal of Freedom With other Nobel winners 2nd from left

The Depression Many of Steinbeck’s books involved the times and effects of the Depression. John wanted people to remember what happened and how Americans suffered.

Love of the Ocean Salinas, CA Steinbeck had a love for the Ocean and enjoyed being around it as much as he could. Salinas California, Steinbeck’s home and birthplace, was very close to the ocean.

Summary Shunning publicity and the encumbrances of success, John Steinbeck devoted himself to his work, to understanding the inner man, to fighting-in his life as in his writing-for the causes he believed in. In so doing-in championing the poor, the unemployed, the persecuted-he created fiction which assured him a well deserved place in the ranks of America’s greats. The Nobel Prize in 1962 acknowledged the greatness that his readers had recognized for decades.

The End